Nowcast - Most mid and upper elevation thermometers start their day off in the low 20's °F, with a few low-lying rebels reporting single digits where cold air likes to settle. Winds blowing from the southwest ramped up at the turn of the new day, continuing in that spirit at o'dark thirty and currently blow 20-30 mph near the high peaks. A weak storm is on the doorstep, but I wouldn't rush out the door for this one, maybe let some snow stack up and hit it late this afternoon. In other words... "clouds so swift the rain fallin' in, gonna see a movie called Gunga Din, pack up your money pull up your tent Mcguinn, you ain't goin' nowhere."
Forecast - Look for increasing clouds with high temperatures a bit cooler than yesterday, climbing into just the low 30's °F. Winds blowing from the west and southwest, ramp into the 30's and 40's and then shift to the northwest and remain steady as cold air and moisture slide into the Uinta zone shortly after suppertime. This is a quick hitter, but we might be able to squeak out a couple inches of low density snow. Essentially a shallow coat of white paint... but really just eyewash.
Futurecast - A clearing trend develops in the wake of todays storm and stretches its wings into the weekend. A glimmer, a suggestion, or perhaps a notion of another small storm is slated for early next week. We'll keep ya posted.
Travel Conditions -The weekend storm piled up 3"-7" of low density snow across the range, favoring the North Slope and eastern fringes of the Uinta's. Settled snow depths clock in at 1'-4' and are quite elevation dependent. On the north half of the compass, fresh snow on top of seven day old, faceted, recycled powder, delivers some of the finest riding of the season! On the solars, a few inches helps cover variable old crusts, creating fantastic, albeit slightly shallower travel, along with late in the day, hot pow snow surface conditions.
Andy and Bo took advantage of the sunshine, got after it, and found great riding in Gardner Fork yesterday, commenting... "the light density snow that fell this past weekend in cooperation with cold temperatures and clear nights this week has seriously weakened the snow surface, which is now turning into sugary facets."
TK was in Weber Canyon and found the surface snow on mid elevation, protected polars has grown remarkably weak and very reactive to slope cutting. I found the same thing in my travels on the North Slope. Facet-lanches are a thing on sustained, steep slopes.
